Should you use your credit card for holiday shopping?
The holiday season is rapidly approaching—to get ahead of tight wallets due to rising inflation, holiday shopping is starting earlier than ever. Despite many people being cash-strapped, many retailers are still optimistic that customers will be ready to spend. When used responsibly, your credit card is the ultimate tool to reap the benefits of holiday shopping—below are a few reasons why you should use your credit card to take care of your gift-giving this holiday season.
Earn rewards while you shop
The most obvious benefit of using your credit card for holiday shopping is reward points. For most cards, you’ll earn around one point for every dollar charged. But there’s potential for even more—some cards offer extra rewards for specific categories or retailers. So, depending on where you shop, you can earn up to 5% cash back on your holiday spending—benefitting you in the long run.
Take advantage of introductory offers
Most credit card companies push introductory bonuses during the holidays to encourage spending and entice people with generous offers. If you’re already planning to purchase gifts with a credit card, consider opening a credit card with an introductory offer to use for holiday shopping. Depending on your budget, you may meet the requirements for a credit card’s introductory bonus just by checking off your holiday shopping list! Georgia’s Own is offering up to $150 cash back (19,500 Flex Reward points) when you open a new Visa Signature® or Platinum contactless credit card and spend $1,500 during the first 90 days.*
Protect your purchases
Another fantastic thing about using credit cards is the purchase protections offered. Unlike debit cards, many credit cards offer various protection programs to ensure your purchases are safeguarded from theft, damage, and more—something crucial during the holidays.
Extended warranty protection
Your credit card may offer an extended warranty program. Manufacturer warranties only go so far. You’ll have peace of mind knowing if you purchase gifts using a card that offers extended warranty protection, you may still be reimbursed for repair or replacement costs. Or, you could even have the original purchase cost reimbursed after the manufacturer warranty expires.
Buyer’s protection
Some credit cards also offer buyer’s protection, which acts as insurance for eligible purchases made with your credit card. Buyer’s protection ensures your purchases are covered against theft or damage within a certain period after purchase. While they sound similar, this is different than extended warranty protection, which offers more comprehensive damage protection. Buyer’s protection provides more coverage against theft or damage.
Porch Piracy Protection
Another fantastic perk some credit cards provide is Porch Piracy Protection, which covers qualified purchases against theft. Let’s say you order gifts online to make holiday shopping easier. You get the long-awaited delivery notification—only to see your porch is empty. If you made those purchases with your eligible credit card, you could be compensated for the total purchase price, up to a certain amount per claim.
Fraud protection
The holidays are prime time for scammers—shop worry-free knowing you’re protected in the event of fraud, as you typically aren’t held liable for unauthorized purchases. For example, if your credit card information is stolen, you don’t need to worry about checks bouncing or automatic payments being declined for insufficient funds, as fraudulent purchases won’t come directly from your checking account.
Redeem your points for gifts
If you’re tight on cash this holiday season or want to keep money in your wallet, you can redeem your credit card rewards points for gifts. Use your points to purchase gift cards, merchandise, travel, and more. Or, if you find yourself visiting family this holiday season, you can even redeem your points on travel, like airline tickets, rental cars, or hotels—saving you some cash.
Make the most of your holiday shopping this year with a Georgia’s Own Visa Signature® or Platinum contactless credit card. You’ll enjoy fantastic features, including no annual fee, enhanced fraud controls, and Flex Rewards** to redeem for cash back, gift cards, and more. Don’t have a Georgia’s Own Visa? Click here to make your holiday shopping count.
*Promotional period begins January 1, 2022 and ends January 31, 2023. Open a new Georgia’s Own Visa Signature® card and spend $1,500 in the first three months of account opening and earn 19,500 points, which can be redeemed for $150 in cash back. Open a new Georgia’s Own Visa Platinum or Student Visa® and spend $1,000 in the first three months of account opening and earn 13,000 points, which can be redeemed for $100 in cash back. Points will be applied within three billing cycles if the account is in good standing. Offer may be withdrawn without notice.
**Georgia’s Own Credit Card points will expire five (5) years from the date earned. Points, including any rollover points or points transferred from an existing Georgia’s Own Credit Card, will not expire before May 31, 2023.